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Technical Assistance Workshop to World Heritage Sites in Syria

13-15 December 2016

From 13 to 15 December 2016, the World Heritage Centre organized a First-Aid Technical Assistance Workshop for three World Heritage sites on Syria, at the UNESCO Office in Beirut.

As the joint WHC/ICOMOS/ICCROM reactive monitoring mission planned in Syria in December 2016 could not take place due to security reasons, a technical workshop has been organized swiftly to examine, with cultural heritage experts and the technical staff of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria (DGAM), the technical requirements for the emergency safeguarding of the World Heritage sites of the Crac des Chevaliers, Palmyra and the Ancient city of Damascus.

Through maps, pictures, surveys and other information available, this workshop examined the state of conservation of the sites, assessed damages, adressed conservation challenges and defined the emergency consolidations needed. Recommendations were made and priority interventions underlined.

For the Crac des Chevaliers, the experts recommended undertaking the necessary urgent interventions and restoration works to avoid further degradation of the masonry and carrying out detailed studies for more complex or less urgent restoration works.

For the Site of Palmyra, the state of conservation of the citadel, the museum and the archaeological site including the Temple of Bel and the Arch of Triumph, has been examined. The experts recalled the importance of gathering all available scientific documentation and carrying out a sound diagnosis of structures before any other emergency intervention is implemented, including debris management.

Finally, for the Ancient city of Damascus, the experts examined the restoration project proposed for the building of the ‘Old Ottoman Bank’, seriously damaged by the fire that spread in al-Asrooniya neighbourhood. They recommended the DGAM to revise the project in order to preserve the heritage value of the historic building, to set a coordination mechanism for restoration works, and to protect the building from further degradation due to weathering urgently.

Reports

For each site, a detailed report available on this page has been elaborated.

Taking into account Decision 40 COM 7A.22 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul, 2016),

Expresses its deep concern over the damage caused by the conflict, and the fire at al-Asrooniya neighbourhood within the property, and requests the State Party to submit a detailed report on the damage caused by the fire;

Also requests the State Party to engage in regular communication and consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies on ongoing emergency first-aid interventions at the property and on future urban plans for the al-Asrooniya neighbourhood; and in particular to:

Limit conservation or restoration to first aid interventions until the security situation improves,

Take immediate action to save the remaining structures through adequate shoring and temporary consolidation measures,

In order to recover the social-economic life of al-Asrooniya and other neighbourhoods, develop restoration and reconstruction guidelines, in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre, that take into account existing documentation and surveys before and after the fire, and the particular social and economic needs of the areas,

Submit to the World Heritage Centre for review by ICOMOS and approval by the World Heritage Committee, reconstruction and restoration plans in al-Asrooniya neighbourhood prior to the commencement of any works;

Urges the State Party to plan and implement all necessary risk-prevention and mitigation plans outlined in the Emergency Response Plan of December 2013, and to report back to the World Heritage Centre on the progress made thereon;

Also urges all parties associated with the situation in Syria to refrain from any action that could cause further damage to the Ancient City of Damascus, including preventing the use of cultural property and prominent architectural elements, in particular the Suleymaniye and Omayyad Mosque Minarets, for military purposes;

Takes note that the State Party has invited a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to reverse the decay and ensure the conservation and protection of the property,and that the mission is foreseen end of 2016, provided that the security situation allows;

Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;

Decides to retain the Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Taking into account Decision 40 COM 7A.22 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul, 2016),

Commends the State Party for taking emergency safeguarding measures to protect the property and for undertaking its detailed documentation;

Reiterates that the State Party should continue to safeguard the Crac des Chevaliers through minimal first aid interventions, to prevent theft, further collapse and natural degradation, and refrain from undertaking conservation and reconstruction works until the situation allows, for the development of comprehensive conservation strategies and actions that respond to international standards in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;

Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to evaluate the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to reverse the decay and ensure the conservation and protection of the property, as soon as the security situation allows;

Decides to retain the Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Taking into account Decision 40 COM 7A.22 on the World Heritage properties of the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul, 2016),

Condemns the deliberate acts of destructions at the property and deplores the considerable damage to the attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);

Acknowledges the documentation and damage assessment undertaken by the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) at the site and at the museum, as well as the Rapid Assessment mission dispatched by UNESCO’s Director General;

Notes with concern the pressures to act quickly to reverse the damage at the property and considers that before any restoration work is undertaken, the property will require detailed studies and extensive field work, and also discussions on defining optimal approaches as well as considerations that go beyond technical issues, including adequate conditions on the ground;

Welcomes the commitment that the development of recovery plans for the property will be undertaken in close consultation with the international scientific community and underlines the need to ensure that there is also broad consultation amongst national stakeholders as well as close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, and that adequate time is given for the completion of the overall process;

Reiterates its view that meanwhile the State Party should safeguard Palmyra through minimal first-aid interventions, to prevent theft, further collapse and natural degradation;

Calls on the international community to provide financial support for the emergency measures that are required at the property;

Requests to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to proceed to a comprehensive assessment of the state of conservation of the property and identify measures needed to reverse the decay and ensure the conservation and protection of the property, as soon as the security situation allows;

Decides to retain the Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.